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Black Iron's Glory Chapter 233
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Black Iron's Glory Chapter 233

Discussion and Inspiration

In many ways, spending time with women was a great way to let loose and relieve tension. Soldiers on the battlefield just waiting to be shot easily developed psychological issues without outlets.

Claude finally understood why Berklin and the other nobles wanted to go to the tavern in Eimis after every excursion. Facing the enemy and watching one's friends die or get hurt did nothing good for the mind. Only good booze and quality time with women relax the heart after such experiences.

But Claude had great self-control and the killing was fine to him. As the war progressed, however, he grew less certain he'd survive and return home. The stress and tension gradually accumulated. Though he appeared confident and reliable to others, he did feel quite a bit of stress inside. He had been dreaming quite a bit about his adventures with Borkal, Welikro and Eriksson back in middle school lately.

Only now did he finally understand the wonders of women. Though he was tired last night, he slept really well and didn't dream at all. He woke up in the morning and did three sessions of 'morning stretches' with the baroness. The two cuddled all the way till noon before getting out of bed. Though he was worn out, he was relaxed and his mind sharp and ready. It was as if he had let go of a heavy burden and his thoughts were so much clearer. The worries that weighed on him were wiped clean instantly and he no longer appeared down from time to time like before.

"We received a reply by carrier pigeon this morning," Myjack said.

He had been waiting outside the door to hand Claude the letter the moment he got up.

The letter said HQ acknowledged the situation and that they would send people to investigate the relationship between Baroness Vaskiri and Liboyd Molowski. According to them, it might take up to three days, so they asked Claude to show the baroness good hospitality until they arrived, even warning him to not offend her no matter what. The letter was signed by Major Lederfanc.

Oh, he'd treat her well alright. He'd treat her to the warmest, sweatiest bed she'd ever touched.

"Take Gum with you and go to the nearby villages. Get me quality ingredients and fine wine. Be back by sunset. I have to cook for the baroness," Claude said as he tossed his subordinate a sack containing some seven crowns.

"Understood, Sir."

Myjack turned to look for Gum.

For lunch, Claude cooked another simple meal. He had a good appetite and ate seven fried eggs in one sitting. He had used a little too much energy the previous night and had to recover, after all.

The lady returned to his room to rest that afternoon. Her original room was inhabited by her two maids. Claude had to check on the mountain pass outpost, however, so he could not accompany her.

Mazik shot Claude an envious glance and gave him a thumbs-up. Only a fresh-faced officer like Claude could do what he'd just done, and done it so hard Mazik could hear it through the floor boards. He wondered aloud if he should accompany the two lonely maids.

Claude ignored the thumbs-up and asked about the number of people that went through the checkpoint, as well as the tent of mounted scouts that returned last night. The tent split into four groups of three riders to scout around Eastern Askilin and the Great Plains of Canas. They left in the morning and returned during the night when Claude was tending to the baroness, so they made their report to Mazik.

"Situation normal," Mazik said, dejectedly pulling his hand back after seeing Claude's disinterest at his thumbs-up, "Last night, the last group of scouts to return reported that they travelled around ten kilometres deep into the great plains and didn't see a single trace of enemy troops, hence their slightly delayed return."

"It's to be expected. The duchies of Canas and Askilin, unlike our kingdom, still use the feudal system. The two mountain paths here are actually private property in these duchies. Even if the military wishes to deploy their troops there, they have to get the approval of the nobles that own the land and give them appropriate compensation before they can come to attack us. Before negotiating the terms, the nobles won't allow the nation's forces to pass through their land."

"How can that be?" Mazik said, his mouth wide agape, "This is war! How can the nobles do that?"

Claude chuckled.

"There's nothing weird about it. The nobles only contribute the bare minimum they are obligated to in the form of money and troops. However, their hereditary fiefs are a whole different matter. They have proper sovereignty over their fiefs and the troops of the nation can only travel through highways owned by the nation. They won't easily enter private property. Only when the nobles' dominions are invaded would they allow their nation's military to step in and intervene. Otherwise, they would refuse letting any other force enter their fief and will resist with force even if they have to."

In the following few days, apart from the routine dinner and bedtime exercises, Claude talked a lot with the baroness and they soon found their common interest -- firearms. The beauty was the one to first draw a rough design about the modifications she envisioned. There were 48 muskets lined up in four rows on top of each other and mounted on a metal frame that could be rotated in the drawing. The frame could also be installed on carriages for mobility.

The rationale behind that design was so that these concentrated musket arrays could be used as fortifications to fire at incoming cavalry to cause maximum damage with bullet concentration. Claude shook his head in disagreement and pointed that they could only be used in one burst. Reloading took too much time after they fired and that wasn't practical on the battlefield. In fact, they would be even less effective than the light infantry cannons. The only advantage to that design was that it could simulate scatter shot rounds that reached further distances.

She had to admit that Claude had a good point. In fact, it was due to the impracticality of the design that it hadn't even been developed into the real thing. Her father had the same opinion as Claude in that only concentrated, continuous fire could stop the rapid advances of light cavalry. It was a shame that her design didn't allow for continuous fire.

The problem lied therein that Freian firearms designed had concentrated completely on muzzleloading for the past few centuries. Even Aueras, whose manufacturing was acknowledged to be the best in Eastern Freia, spent two long decades to develop muskets that could fire further than 350 metres. The kingdom's Aubass Mark 2 was famed for being ahead of the competition in terms of weight, shooting range, durability, quality and reliability.

That was the reason the accuracy mechanism of the Aubass Mark 3 was quickly replicated by the Alliance. Aueras already had the advantage in terms of weapons, but now, they had the added edge of accuracy. While the knockoffs produced by the Alliance couldn't shoot as precisely and far as their Aueran counterparts, the precise aiming technique was used to great effect by the Alliance to fend off the advancing Aueran troops.

The reason the baroness bought the two Aubass Mark 3s for a high price in the black market was to see whether she could get inspiration for new designs. She believed that precise aiming would indeed be effective to curb light cavalry, but the muzzleloading mechanism still frustrated her. Even the most practice soldier could only fire three rounds within a minute at most, assuming there were zero errors during the cumbersome reloading process.

So, when the beauty jokingly asked whether Claude had a better idea for a faster-loading firearm, Claude glared at her seriously for a moment and said, "I really don't understand why you musketsmiths have to slavishly stick to the matchlock design and make only minor changes to the weight, length of the barrel or shape of the parts. Why don't you consider a way to improve the ignition mechanism and the bullets? If you want to raise the rate of fire, maybe even make it possible to rapid-fire, then perhaps you can consider making weapons that can load from the back."

She still hasn't caught on to the last sentence Claude said. "Changes to the ignition mechanism and the bullets have long been considered, but the muskets that came from the fruit of that research couldn't compare to existing matchlocks used by the various nations. They are even inferior to hunting muskets. Research on those firearms don't have much of a future."

Claude sighed. "That's why you guys ran into a dead end with that kind of thinking. Think about it: matchlocks centuries ago definitely can't compare to their current counterparts. It's through slow and gradual improvements that they've become what they are today, mature and reliable designs.

"While the new prototypes can't shoot as far or lethal as current muskets, it's just a matter of time and effort poured into research. It'd definitely be possible to improve those muskets until they're as good as modern matchlocks. Perhaps when that time comes, it will mark a turning point in the history of firearms development. You'd be branching off and developing a firearm that's completely different from a matchlock."

The baroness stood there, stumped. She felt Claude's words had touched the depths of her psyche. She recalled what he had said moments earlier, "Do you think it's possible to load from the back? The breach, you mean?"

"Why not? I often think about how convenient it would be if we could just open a whole at the back of the gun to pop the bullet and powder in and close the whole back before shooting. Come to think of it, aren't there rounds with paper cartridges already containing the powder? If that's the case, I would only have to pop a single thing in from the breach. That'd be far more convenient."

"Go out for a moment and let me gather my thoughts..." Claude seemed to have opened a door to a new world in her mind. A torrent of ideas assailed her and inspiration came flooding in. Afraid that Claude would interrupt her train of thoughts, she shooed Claude out of the room.

Happy times often passed without one noticing. Four days later, Claude received a letter from HQ stating that the baroness' identity had been confirmed. She was indeed the daughter of Master Boyd, Baroness Vaskiri. Major Lederfanc ordered Claude to apologize to her for delaying her journey and extend an invitation to her and her father on the army's behalf to go to the capital for a tour of the national firearms research institute.

When the two were tussling about in bed the night before her departure, she told Claude she would go to Aueras with her father, but only after his health condition improved. She also said she would continue the research they'd discussed.

Three days after sending her off, Major Lederfanc came for an inspection.

Chapter end

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Chapter 586
Chapter 585
Chapter 584
Chapter 583
Chapter 582
Chapter 581
Chapter 580
Chapter 579
Chapter 578
Chapter 577
Chapter 576
Chapter 575
Chapter 574
Chapter 573
Chapter 572
Chapter 571
Chapter 570
Chapter 569
Chapter 568
Chapter 567
Chapter 566
Chapter 565
Chapter 564
Chapter 563
Chapter 562
Chapter 561
Chapter 560
Chapter 559
Chapter 558
Chapter 557
Chapter 556
Chapter 555
Chapter 554
Chapter 553
Chapter 552
Chapter 551
Chapter 550
Chapter 549
Chapter 548
Chapter 547
Chapter 546
Chapter 545
Chapter 544
Chapter 543
Chapter 542
Chapter 541
Chapter 540
Chapter 539
Chapter 538
Chapter 537
Chapter 536
Chapter 535
Chapter 534
Chapter 533
Chapter 532
Chapter 531
Chapter 530
Chapter 529
Chapter 528
Chapter 527
Chapter 526
Chapter 525
Chapter 524
Chapter 523
Chapter 522
Chapter 521
Chapter 520
Chapter 519
Chapter 518
Chapter 517
Chapter 516
Chapter 515
Chapter 514
Chapter 513
Chapter 512
Chapter 511
Chapter 510
Chapter 509
Chapter 508
Chapter 507
Chapter 506
Chapter 505
Chapter 504
Chapter 503
Chapter 502
Chapter 501
Chapter 500
Chapter 499
Chapter 498
Chapter 497
Chapter 496
Chapter 495
Chapter 494
Chapter 493
Chapter 492
Chapter 491
Chapter 490
Chapter 489
Chapter 488
Chapter 487
Chapter 486
Chapter 485
Chapter 484
Chapter 483
Chapter 482
Chapter 481
Chapter 480 – Aftermath and Self
Chapter 479
Chapter 478
Chapter 477
Chapter 476
Chapter 475
Chapter 474
Chapter 473
Chapter 472
Chapter 471
Chapter 470
Chapter 469
Chapter 468
Chapter 467
Chapter 466
Chapter 465
Chapter 464
Chapter 463
Chapter 462
Chapter 461
Chapter 460
Chapter 459
Chapter 458
Chapter 457
Chapter 456
Chapter 455
Chapter 454
Chapter 453
Chapter 452
Chapter 451
Chapter 450
Chapter 449
Chapter 448
Chapter 447
Chapter 446
Chapter 445
Chapter 444
Chapter 443
Chapter 442
Chapter 441
Chapter 440
Chapter 439
Chapter 438
Chapter 437
Chapter 436
Chapter 435
Chapter 434
Chapter 433
Chapter 432
Chapter 431
Chapter 430
Chapter 429
Chapter 428
Chapter 427
Chapter 426
Chapter 425
Chapter 424
Chapter 423
Chapter 422
Chapter 421
Chapter 420
Chapter 419
Chapter 418
Chapter 417
Chapter 416
Chapter 415
Chapter 414
Chapter 413
Chapter 412
Chapter 411
Chapter 410
Chapter 409
Chapter 408
Chapter 407
Chapter 406
Chapter 405
Chapter 404
Chapter 403
Chapter 402
Chapter 401
Chapter 400
Chapter 399
Chapter 398
Chapter 397
Chapter 396
Chapter 395
Chapter 394
Chapter 393
Chapter 392
Chapter 391
Chapter 390
Chapter 389
Chapter 388
Chapter 387
Chapter 386
Chapter 385
Chapter 384
Chapter 383
Chapter 382
Chapter 381
Chapter 380
Chapter 379
Chapter 378
Chapter 377
Chapter 376
Chapter 375
Chapter 374
Chapter 373
Chapter 372
Chapter 371
Chapter 370
Chapter 369
Chapter 368
Chapter 367
Chapter 366
Chapter 365
Chapter 364
Chapter 363
Chapter 362
Chapter 361
Chapter 360
Chapter 359
Chapter 358
Chapter 357
Chapter 356
Chapter 355
Chapter 354
Chapter 353
Chapter 352
Chapter 351
Chapter 350
Chapter 349
Chapter 348
Chapter 347
Chapter 346
Chapter 345
Chapter 344
Chapter 343
Chapter 342
Chapter 341
Chapter 340
Chapter 339
Chapter 338
Chapter 337
Chapter 336
Chapter 335
Chapter 334
Chapter 333
Chapter 332
Chapter 331
Chapter 330
Chapter 329
Chapter 328
Chapter 327
Chapter 326
Chapter 325
Chapter 324
Chapter 323
Chapter 322
Chapter 321
Chapter 320
Chapter 319
Chapter 318
Chapter 317
Chapter 316
Chapter 315
Chapter 314
Chapter 313
Chapter 312
Chapter 311
Chapter 310
Chapter 309
Chapter 308
Chapter 307
Chapter 306
Chapter 305
Chapter 304
Chapter 303
Chapter 302
Chapter 301
Chapter 300
Chapter 299
Chapter 298
Chapter 297
Chapter 296
Chapter 295
Chapter 294
Chapter 293
Chapter 292
Chapter 291
Chapter 290
Chapter 289
Chapter 288
Chapter 287
Chapter 286
Chapter 285
Chapter 284
Chapter 283
Chapter 282
Chapter 281
Chapter 280
Chapter 279
Chapter 278
Chapter 277
Chapter 276
Chapter 275
Chapter 274
Chapter 273
Chapter 272
Chapter 271
Chapter 270
Chapter 269
Chapter 268
Chapter 267
Chapter 266
Chapter 265
Chapter 264
Chapter 263
Chapter 262
Chapter 261
Chapter 260
Chapter 259
Chapter 258
Chapter 257
Chapter 256
Chapter 255
Chapter 254
Chapter 253
Chapter 252
Chapter 251
Chapter 250
Chapter 249
Chapter 248
Chapter 247
Chapter 246
Chapter 245
Chapter 244
Chapter 243
Chapter 242
Chapter 241
Chapter 240
Chapter 239
Chapter 238
Chapter 237
Chapter 236
Chapter 235
Chapter 234
Chapter 233
Chapter 232
Chapter 231
Chapter 230
Chapter 229
Chapter 228
Chapter 227
Chapter 226
Chapter 225
Chapter 224
Chapter 223
Chapter 222
Chapter 221
Chapter 220
Chapter 219
Chapter 218
Chapter 217
Chapter 216
Chapter 215
Chapter 214
Chapter 213
Chapter 212
Chapter 211
Chapter 210
Chapter 209
Chapter 208
Chapter 207
Chapter 206
Chapter 205
Chapter 204
Chapter 203
Chapter 202
Chapter 201
Chapter 200
Chapter 199
Chapter 198
Chapter 197
Chapter 196
Chapter 195
Chapter 194
Chapter 193
Chapter 192
Chapter 191
Chapter 190
Chapter 189
Chapter 188
Chapter 187
Chapter 186
Chapter 185
Chapter 184
Chapter 183
Chapter 182
Chapter 181
Chapter 180
Chapter 179
Chapter 178
Chapter 177
Chapter 176
Chapter 175
Chapter 174
Chapter 173
Chapter 172
Chapter 171
Chapter 170
Chapter 169
Chapter 168
Chapter 167
Chapter 166
Chapter 165
Chapter 164
Chapter 163
Chapter 162
Chapter 161
Chapter 160
Chapter 159
Chapter 158
Chapter 157
Chapter 156
Chapter 155
Chapter 154
Chapter 153
Chapter 152
Chapter 151
Chapter 150
Chapter 149
Chapter 148
Chapter 147
Chapter 146
Chapter 145
Chapter 144
Chapter 143
Chapter 142
Chapter 141
Chapter 140
Chapter 139
Chapter 138
Chapter 137
Chapter 136
Chapter 135
Chapter 134
Chapter 133
Chapter 132
Chapter 131
Chapter 130
Chapter 129
Chapter 128
Chapter 127
Chapter 126
Chapter 125
Chapter 124
Chapter 123
Chapter 122
Chapter 121
Chapter 120
Chapter 119
Chapter 118
Chapter 117
Chapter 116
Chapter 115
Chapter 114
Chapter 113
Chapter 112
Chapter 111
Chapter 110
Chapter 109
Chapter 108
Chapter 107
Chapter 106
Chapter 105
Chapter 104
Chapter 103
Chapter 102
Chapter 101
Chapter 100
Chapter 99
Chapter 98
Chapter 97
Chapter 96
Chapter 95
Chapter 94
Chapter 93
Chapter 92
Chapter 91
Chapter 90
Chapter 89
Chapter 88
Chapter 87
Chapter 86
Chapter 85
Chapter 84
Chapter 83
Chapter 82
Chapter 81
Chapter 80
Chapter 79
Chapter 78
Chapter 77
Chapter 76
Chapter 75
Chapter 74
Chapter 73
Chapter 72
Chapter 71
Chapter 70
Chapter 69
Chapter 68
Chapter 67
Chapter 66
Chapter 65
Chapter 64
Chapter 63
Chapter 62
Chapter 61
Chapter 60
Chapter 59
Chapter 58
Chapter 57
Chapter 56
Chapter 55
Chapter 54
Chapter 53
Chapter 52
Chapter 51
Chapter 50
Chapter 49
Chapter 48
Chapter 47
Chapter 46
Chapter 45
Chapter 44
Chapter 43
Chapter 42
Chapter 41
Chapter 40
Chapter 39
Chapter 38
Chapter 37
Chapter 36
Chapter 35
Chapter 34
Chapter 33
Chapter 32
Chapter 31
Chapter 30
Chapter 29
Chapter 28
Chapter 27
Chapter 26
Chapter 25
Chapter 24
Chapter 23
Chapter 22
Chapter 21
Chapter 20
Chapter 19
Chapter 18
Chapter 17
Chapter 16
Chapter 15
Chapter 14
Chapter 13
Chapter 12
Chapter 11
Chapter 10
Chapter 9
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
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